Venetian blind restringer



June 3, 1958 c. NOKES 2,835,832

VENETIAN BLIND RESTRINGER Filed May 28, 1956 5' INVENTOR 3 7- CZarence[Vokea ATTORNEYS United States Patent VENETIAN BLEND RESTRINGER ClarenceNokes, Washington, D. C.

Application May 28, 1956, Serial No. 587,891

1 Claim. (Cl. 23-241) The present invention relates to Venetian blindrestringers, and more particularly to a device for assisting in thereplacing of the lifting cord of a Ventian blind.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a restringing devicewhich is adapted to be utilized for replacing worn or broken Venetianblind lifting cords without requiring the disassembly of the blind.

Another object of the invention is to provide a restringing device ofthe class described above which is adapted to cooperate with the worn orbroken Venetian blind cord so as to be guided thereby into restringingposition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a Venetian blindrestringing device of the class described above which is inexpensive tomanufacture, simple to operate and use, and completely efiective in itsaction.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the followingspecification when considered in the light of the attached drawings, inwhich:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-section taken along the line 22 ofFigure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a transverse cross-section taken along the line 3-3 ofFigure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail cross-section taken along theline 4-4 of Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a modified form of restringing device.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the cords of a Venetian blind to bereplaced by using the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like referencecharacters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, thereference numerical 10 indicates generally a Venetian blind cord whichis adapted to be trained over pulleys 11 and 12 and double pulley 13shown diagrammatically in Figure 6 to provide a pair of lifting lengths14 and 15.

Dependent portions 16 and 17 extend downwardly from the pulley 13 andintegrally join respectively to the lengths 14 and 15. The dependentportions 16 and 17 are integrally joined at 18 to form a loop. Thelengths 14 and have terminal ends 19 and 20, respectively thereon, forengagement with the lower bar of a Venetian blind structure (not shown).

A restringer for replacement of the cord 10 is generally indicated at 21and consists of a body 22 formed of relatively soft flexible material,such as rubber or the like, having a tapered end portion 23 and acylindrical body portion 24 integrally joined to the tapered end portion23 and extending axially therefrom.

The cylindrical portion 24 is provided with a bore 25 extending from theend 26 opposite the tapered end portion 23 completely through thecylindrical portion 24 to the tapered end portion 23. The cylindricalportion 24 is provided with an open side 27 extending from a pointPatented June 3, 1958 ice spaced from the end 28 of the bore 25 to apoint 29 spaced inwardly from the end 26 of the cylindrical body 24.

A pair of sharpened pins 30 are provided with heads 31 on one endthereof which are molded into the cylindrical portion 24 with thesharpened points 32 thereof extending into the bore 25 in thecylindrical portion 24. The pins 30 are angled in a direction toward thetapered end 23, as best illustrated in Figure 3.

A short length of ball chain 33 has a portion 34 thereof molded into thetapered end portion 23 of the restringer 21. The chain 33 is providedwith an outer terminal ball 35. A length of chain 36 is provided forattachment to the restringer 21 by means of a chain connector 37 ofconventional construction. A T-head handle 38 is provided with a chainball 39 at the terminal end of its shank and is adapted to be connectedto the chain 36 by means of a chain connector 40.

Referring to Figure 5, there is illustrated a modified form, indicatedgenerally at 21', of the restringer 21. The modified restringer 21' isprovided with a flexible body 22 having a tapered end portion 23' and anintegral cylindrical body portion 24 extending longitudinally of thetapered end portion 23'. A short length of ball chain 41 is embedded inthe end 26' of the cylindrical body 24, for reasons to be assigned.

In the use and operation of the invention, when the Venetian blind cord10 becomes worn and frayed, it is imperative that it be replaced topermit the normal operation of the Venetian blind since continued use ofsuch a cord will result in its breaking, rendering the Venetian blindinoperative.

When it is desired to replace the cord 10, the loop 18 connecting theportions 16 and 17 is cut, and the cut end of the portion 16 is insertedinto the bore 25 of the restringer 21. A length of chain 36 is connectedto the chain 33 by means of the connector 37, and the length 14 of thecord 10 is pulled pulling the portion 16 under the pulleys 13 and 11until the restringer 21 reaches a point generally indicated at 42 lyingbetween the pulleys 11 and 12. With the parts in this position, thechain 36 replaces the portion 16 of the cord 10 and is trained over thepulley 13.

A second restringer 21 is then connected to the cut end of the portion17 by inserting it in the bore 25 of the restringer 21. A thirdrestringer 21 is connected to a length of new replacement cord (notshown) and this restringer 21 is connected to the restringer 21 on thecut end of the portion 17 by means of their respective short chains 33and a connector 37. As can readily be seen this arrangement provides apositive connection between the cut end of the portion 17 and one end ofthe new replacement cord. The length 15 of the cord 10 is then pulled,moving the portion 17 about the pulleys 13 and 12.

The connectors 21 are permitted to pass over the pulley 13 due to thesmall size of the chain 36 lying thereon in place of the length 16 ofthe cord 19. The length 15 and the portion 17 of the cord 10 are pulleduntil the new cord extends to the terminal point 20 whereupon therestringers 21 are disconnected therefrom and from the old cord 10. Oneof the restringers 21 is then secured to the end of the new cordopposite to that trained over the pulleys 12 and 13 by having the end ofthe new cord inserted in the bore 25.

The short chain 33 of the restringer 21 is then connected to the chain36 which is replacing the portion 16 by means of a connector 37. The oldcord 10 connected to the chain 36 is then pulled about the pulley 11until all of the chain 36 and the new cord are trained over the pulleys13 and 11 and the new cord reaches the terminal end 19. This completesthe restringing and the new cord is then connectedto the bottom bar ofthe Venetian blind in the usual manner. It should be understood thatwhile I have described one method of restringing Vene tian blinds, therestringer 21 is adapted for other methods of restringing. t t V 7 3 VThe restn'n'ge'r' zl' illustrated in Figure 5 is used for restringingoperations when the cord l is broken or completely missing. Therestringer zl" is used similar {to a needle passing through the holes inthe Venetian blind slats pulling the short chain 41 therethrough. Instringing a blind'with the restringer 21' a new cord can be connectedthereto through a restringer 21 and connector 37, or it can be firstutilizied to thread a chain'36 through the Veneianrblind so that it canthen be used to pfuii a new cord therethrough'. 5 a f i The T-handle 38is adapted to be used with any of the chains 36 to pull the chain 36through a Venetian v iind after the removal of the restringer 21.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention, itshould be understood that numerous other structural modifications andadaptations may be resorted to without, departing from the scope of theappended claim. a

What is claimed is: v p t A Venetian blind restringing device comprisingan assassa r a .t Q;

into the tapered end portion of said body for connecting said body to anoperator, and a pair of sharpened pins molded into the wall of said boreand extending at an angle into said bore toward said tapered end portionfor engaging and securing a Venetian blind cord therein, said sharpenedpins being molded into the wall of said here on the side thereofopposite the opening in said cylindrical body communicating with saidbore in aligned relation thereto. 7

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED, STATES PATENTSSkelton Dec. 20,1949 Erbe Apr; 8, 1952

